I had a coach ask me about blocking techniques the other day. I believe I was correct in the answer, but would like to get other's opinion. He would like to teach his 9th grade strong- side linemen to make initial contact and then change to a crab block. I told him blocking below the waste in the NZ was legal as long as the ball is still in the NZ.

Does anyone see any errors in my ways? BTW, I told him with the ball leaving the NZ quickly these days, that crab blocking has lost some of its effectiveness. Thanks for any comments.

Good question.
 

Yes, you are correct but remember this:

Assuming National Federation rules: the tackle can make his initial block above the defender's waist and then, as part of the same continuous block (tackle's contact on defender is not lost), the tackle may slide down and perform a crab block against the defender.

This may be done anywhere on the field. The free blocking zone only applies when the initial contact is below the waist.

So to answer your question, any player, at any time during the play, anywhere on the field, may make a legal block and then while in continuous contact with his opponent slide down into a crab block.

Hope this helps.

Everything Mike said sounds good to me. ;)

thanks for the comments, guys.

REPLY: I also agree with Mike. But I hope that you didn't give the coach the mistaken impression that the <u>only</u> requirement for a legal BBW is that the ball must still be in the zone. You may have answered his specific question but unintentionally misled him about BBWs in general.